Post puller



A. S. TOFTEY Sept. 27, 1949.

POST FULLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1947 INVENTOR. flbner S. 76f2ey BY S P A. s. TOFTEY I I 2,482,950

POST FULLER Filed Jan. 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiji INVENTOR. Abner S Rffey Patented Sept. 27, 1949 J i .n V @2482,950q"; a

r051 mg; Mor is/J m s Is w f ,nn ic fie lhnw 11, 1 7 Se a 221 161 2icla nis- (015254536) 1 r This invention relates generally to post puller machines and in particular to a 'post puller attachment for a :farm tractor having a pivoted lifti-ng frame.

An .object of this invention is to provide an improved post puller'machine.

A further object of this invention is :to provide a post puller attachment tor a tractor equipped with a lifting frame, which is mountable on the lifting frame at a position providing for its easy movement into a .post pulling position and for its complete operation by }the tractor operator in a seated position on the tractor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post puller attachmentior a tractor equipped with a lifting -franie, which is of a compact and economical Construction, readily removed from andassembled with the lifting frame by'one man, and eflicient in operation to pull posts of varying sizes without requiring any special adjustments.

A feature of this-invention is found in the provision of a post puller attachment in which-a pair of transverse rock shafts are supported in a longitudinally-spaced relation on a' frame member, with one of their ends projected laterally "from -a side of the frame member. Afipair-of post-engaging arms or jaws oppositely arranged on the rock shafts are mounted for movement between closed positions in a substantially common plane 7 and open positions extended upwardly and inwardly toward each other. The shafts are con- :nected for movement together and are yieldably moved and'heldin positions atwhichthe jaws are closed. The shafts are manually moved to open the jaws -to receive'a-post between the inner adjacent-ends thereof.

Further objects,featuresand-advantages of this invention will become apparent from the followingdescription when talzen in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is afragmentary perspective -view of the rear portion ofa tractor showing the post puller attachment of this invention in assembly relation :therewith;

- Fig. 2 is a-nenlarged topplanview of the attachment of this invention;

Fig. 3-is an elevation al viewofltheiront portion of-a-tractor showingthe attachment of this'inv'en tion in assernbly relation therewith;

Fign l-is'a plan view of the-assembly shown in Fig. 3 .and

:Fig. 5 is a'--front view of=the assembly shown in Fig. 3.

' with reference' to the drawings, th postpuller lattachmentof this -invention is --i-llustra}ted in Fig. 5

i in assembly relation with :a tractor equipped with-a Jpivoted iifting frame, indicated generally at 'l 0, and Lforming par-t (of a usual Ferguson sys' tem. 1 'The frame 1| oilinclud'es a pair of rearwardly extended diverging arms H having their firont ends pivotedat 2 toiopposi-te sides of -a dififeren, tial housing l3 which constitutes part of aarear .axle-1.housing t4. @onnected ibetween the rear ends'ofthe'members 'l 'I isla;transverse;drawbar s15.

Aspair .of upright lifitin'g arms ill have their flower iends pivotaH-y connected at 21:8 to corre sponding ones of the frame member-sell! ,lwhileithe up er ends of .the lifting arms "Hare .operatively connected with a acranklmember 4&9, which is ardstatably supported in a portion 21 .of the "tractor. The .cran-k member L9 :is operatively associated withzlitting mechanism vtnotshwwni) ;for raising and il'owering the arms :h'l. I!he post puller'lattachment (Figs. -1 and 2) in.- cludes .a body member 22, of a fiat :bar shape, formed with longitudinally spaced holes 23 adapt.- led ifor alignment with corresponding holes ,(not shown) in the drawbar ':li6.' Projected upwardly from the body member 22 is'lanluprig ht frame 24 comprised ofla ,pair of flame-members lfi havin lower .uprightgend lsctidns #2:! irigidly'lconnected, as. by wedding, with the zbody member .22 adja- .cent 'thekopposite ends of the dandy member. 'Eachmember 26 from its flower-[section -:211, :is :in Jclined upwardly and inwardly and :then 'terminates in an upright .section ?28. tIhe-topi's'ections +28, of the frame'members 26, are' hel-dinla .paralalel spaced .relationbyia .connectin'g pin 30. A pin *3 I extended :between the ,top sections +28 LpiVotally supports the. rearjend .32 .of the ali-nk 29, ,while sits front .end 'is pivotally "connected at -3:3 with a Zrockenarm 64 whichiniturniisipivotedat 36 etOith -.difierential :housing 13. 'lihe rocker arm 134,001;- stitutes ;part.ofkthe usual Ferguson :lift system.

*Mou'nted atpppositeends oftthe-tramemember -22 and against :the innersides of :the lower sec- ,tions ZII of the -upriglit -fra'me members 26 are transversely extended :longitudi-nallyspaced angle members 31 which 'proje'ct 1atera1ly outwardly :from one side-of the body member 2-2. ='I he angle' mem-bers 31 ai'e' secured, as :by weIding, to both the top side of -the ;body"memper 22 and :to the-innensides of the t tanic-member sections 2]. Each an'gle' merriberl is p'rovided at-its free or projected end with a bearing"member-38, and "intermediate its-endswith a similar bearing member 39. A pairo'f-rocksh'afts Mandel, falength substantially {equal to theganglej membersj 31, are irotatably spppdrqed trespassing. ppirs Qf -be'aring' memliers 38 and 39'. Mouiit'ed'*"on the rock shafts 40 and 4| at positions between corresponding bearings 38 and 39, so as to be arranged oppositely from each other, are a pair of rock arms or jaws 42, of a flat bar shape, and extended inwardly toward each other. The inner adjacent ends of the jaws ,42 are formed with V-shape notches or recesses 43. Extended longitudinally of the jaws 42, and within the recesses 43, are prongs or post-engaging members 44. The jaws 42 are of a length such that when they are moved into closed positions in substantially common plane, their inner adjacent ends are in a spaced relation.

The rock shafts 40 and 4| are connected for movement together by the provision of means including a rock arm 46 mounted on the'rock shaft 4| at its end opposite the bearing 38,- The corresponding end of the rock shaft 40 carries a rock lever 41 which is reversely inclined relative to the rock arm 46 on the rock shaft 4|. A link 48 pivotally connects the free end of the rock arm 46 with the lower end 48 of the rock lever 41. By virtue of this pivotal connection, and the reversed inclination of the rock arm 46 and rock lever 41, the shafts 40 and 4| are connected together for concurrent rotation in opposite directions.

In the assembly of the attachment on the lift frame Ill the body member 22 is mounted on the draw bar "5 such that the angle members 31 are extended rearwardly of the drawbar and in turn of the frame [0.

Bolts 5|], inserted through the openings 23, in the body member 22, and corresponding openings in the draw bar l6 secure the attachment with the draw bar. A connecting bar 29 has its forward end pivotally connected at 33 with a rocker arm 34, which in turn is pivoted at 36 on the differential housing l3. As is well known, the rocker arm 34 forms part. of the usual Ford-Ferguson system. The rear end 32 of the bar 29 is pivotally supported on a pin 3| carried in the top sections 28 of the frame members 26.

In the operation of the attachment, the postengaging arms or jaws 42 are normally yieldably moved and held in their closed positions, illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, at which they are in a substantially common plane. This position is maintained by a coil spring 49 connected between the free end of the rock arm 46 and a lateral projection 45 on the body member 22.

When a post is to be pulled, the jaws are moved upwardly to their open positions, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, by the provision of a manually operated cable 5| which is movably supported n the upright frame 24 on a swivel pulley 55 and connected at its end 52 with the upper end 53 of the rock lever 41. It is contemplated that the cable or rope be of a length to provide for its manipulation by the operator of the tractor.

With the jaws .42 manually maintained in their open positions, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, and with the frame In in a lowered position, the tractor is manipulated to receive the post to be pulled between the inner adjacent ends of the jaws 42. When the post is thus received between the jaws, the rope 5| is released whereby the jaws 42 are moved downwardly toward each other by the action of the spring 49 on the rock shafts 48 and 41. This movement of the jaws 42, by the spring 49, continues until the jaws 42 and meme bers 44 are engaged with the post.

After this initial engagement, takes place, the frame In is elevated, with this elevation providing for a closing movement-of the jaws 42;i nto locked or embedded positions with the post. After this locking position is reached, the post is pulled on a continued raising of the lift frame I.

To release the post, after it has been pulled, it is only necessary to lower the frame l0 so that the post on striking the ground moves the jaws 42 toward their full line positions illustrated in Fig. 1. I

The post puller attachment, illustrated in Figs. 3-5, inclusive, is' -similar in all respects in its construction and operation to the attachment in Fig. 1, except for its assembly on a tractor.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the tractor 56 has a lift; frame 51 which includes a pair of pivoted lifting arms 58 arranged at opposite sides of the tractor and pivoted at their rear ends on the tractor rear axle (not shown). The arms 58 are raised and lowered by the provision of means including a pair of hydraulic cylinders 59, arranged at opposite sides of the tractor, and connected with the arms 56 by cables 6| whichhave their inner ends connected to the tractor frame. The cylinders 59 are connected in any usual manner with an oil pump unit (not shown) on the tractor. The forward ends of the lifting arms 58 are connected together by a transverse connecting member 62. -1

Pivoted lift frames, of the general type described above, are now in common use in tractor loader attachments: which usually include a scoop (not shown) generally pivoted at 63 between the front ends of the lifting arms 53.

In the use of the post puller attachment of this invention, the usual scoop for the loader attachment is removed and a frame member 64 having hooked ends 66 is supported on the front ends of the lifting arms 58 and secured thereto by the pivot bolts 63. The frame member 22 is then mounted directly on the frame member 64 and to one side thereof.

The upright frame 24, by virtue of its projecting above the lift frame 51, facilitates the maneuverability of the tractor by the tractor operator, to position the attachment in a postpulling position.

The operation of the attachment, when mounted on the pivoted lifting frame 51, is similar in all respects toitsroperation on the pivoted frame it in Fig. 1, so that a further de scription of such operation in connection with Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is believed to be unnecessary.

From a consideration of the above description, it is seen that the invention provides a post puller attachment which is readily assembled with a minimum of time'and effort on tractors equipped with different types of pivoted lifting frames. The support of theattachment on the lifting frame does not in any way interfere with a full maneuverability of the tractor for positioning the attachment in a post-pulling position. The attachment is completely operable by the tractor operator to both engage and pull a post, and then to release a post therefrom, so that post pulling operations can be performed in succession and without requiring any dismounting by the tractor operator.

Also, the attachment is adapted to efficiently operate on posts of varying widths without requiring any special adjustments, since the jaws 42 are capable of being wedged in looking positions with a post to be pulled, at any position of the jaws between their full and dotted line positions, illustrated in Fig. 1.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a-preferred embodiment thereof,

it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A post puller attachment for a tractor having a pivoted lifting frame pivotally supported at one end on said tractor and having its other end extended outwardly from an end of the tractor, said attachment comprising a transverse body member mounted on said other end of the lifting frame, a pair of transversely spaced rock shafts on said body member extended laterally from one side of said body member, a pair of oppositely arranged post engaging members on said shaft extensions movable inwardly toward each other to positions in a substantially common plane, means connecting said rock shafts for concurrent rockable movement in opposite directions, and means acting on said connecting means to yieldably move and hold said rock shafts in positions at which said postengaging members are in said substantially common plane.

2. A post puller attachment for a tractor having a pivoted lift frame pivotally supported at one end on said tractor and having its other end extended outwardly from an end of the tractor, said attachment comprising a transverse body member mounted on said other end of the lift frame, a pair of longitudinally extended rock shafts rockably supported in a spaced relation on said body member, a pair of oppositely arranged post-engaging arms on said shafts, reversely inclined rock arms on said shafts, a link pivotally connected between the free ends of said rock arms, spring means connected between one of said rock arms and said body member for yieldably moving and holding said rock shafts in positions at which said post-engaging arms are in a substantially common plane, and manually operated means for moving said rock shafts against the'action of said spring means to provide forthe movement of said post-engaging arms to positions inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other.

ABNER S. TOFTEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- 

